Pivotal is hosting an open house

June 23, 2013

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Pivotal Propane is hosting an open house Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Open since 2010 and owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Heath and Amy Smith, along with their son and future employee Lincoln, Pivotal Propane will be filling grill tanks on site during the open house for $10 apiece.

A disc jockey from a local radio station will be playing music from 10 a.m. until noon. Food and drinks will be served, including Kirk's Homemade Ice Cream.

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Pivotal has been making home deliveries of propane for residential and commercial customers both since its inception.

Now the Smith's want to stress the filling capabilities they possess as their main office at 66800 Pogue Rd. in Fox Commerce Park near St. Clairsville. The facility is directly across from the roadway leading to the Belmont County Fairgrounds.

From grill tanks to campers and motor homes, all manner of smaller propane tanks can be filled and/or exchanged at Pivotal Propane's office.

In addition, Pivotal has propane exchange cages at various locations throughout the Ohio Valley, including local campgrounds.

Given their location, Pivotal benefits greatly during Jamboree in the Hills week, along with the Belmont County Fair.

Amy Smith noted the vehicles lining up the Sunday prior to Jamboree week pass right in front of the office. Last year, Pivotal staff were assisting Jamboree goers with their fill-ups while waiting in line.

The vendors from the food trucks at the Belmont County Fair also utilized Pivotal to keep their tanks filled.

Of course, home delivery and great customer service have been Pivotal's calling cards since its inception.

Open Monday through Friday from 9-5 p.m., Pivotal's staff makes deliveries to both residential and commercial customers. When emergency fill-ups are required, Pivotal can make that delivery any time, day or night, no matter the day.

They also offer tank installation.

According to Amy, Pivotal sells the 100-gallon tanks for personal use. The larger tanks, the 320, 500 and 1,000-gallon varieties, are also available for residential and commercial use. There is no monthly tank charge, only an agreement to purchase one fill-up per year.

If a new tank is needed, Pivotal will deliver the tank, install it and make any necessary connections on the outside of the home.

Amy noted there is no delivery charge. Pivotal reaches customers across the area in Ohio and as far east as West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Prior to opening Pivotal, Amy was a member of the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities while Heath Smith worked as a union carpenter.

A relative in the propane business first turned them on to the idea and Brian Dawes from the James C. Dawes Co. in Martins Ferry greatly assisted the Smith's with getting the ball rolling with their new business.

The Smith's employ two drivers, Joe Klempa and Jimmy Cross, along with office assistant Caitlyn Burkhart. They, along with Amy and Heath Smith, keep the wheels turning at Pivotal. Heath's father, Terry Smith, has been known to assist from time to time.

The low overhead costs are passed along as savings to Pivotal's customers.

The only locally owned independent provider of propane, Heath Smith noted the local customers' willingness to keep their dollars locally to boost the economy and he and his staff are greatly appreciative of that fact.

"We are impressed with the support of the local people," Heath Smith explained. "The way things have changed over the last 5-or-6 years people are going back to the old ways of wanting to deal with local companies and local families for their business needs instead of going to a big company."

Pivotal can be reached at (740) 699-1247. For more information, visit its Facebook page by searching for Pivotal Propane.